Swimming device



July 27, 1943. w N 2,325,453

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1942 J72 venor ffaroldfi Wane?" -25 I f L/ Patented July 27, 1943 1 UNITED s'm rlz s P TENTQOFFICE SWIMMING DEVICE Harold H. Wener, Stoughton, Wis Application January 19, 1942; Serial No. 427,235

7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to devices for facilitating swimming and more particularly to devices to be attached to the legs of a swimmer to increase the propelling effect of each stroke of the legs. The general object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the foregoing: character which attains a maximum propelling efiect on the forward stroke of the leg, and offers a minimum resistance to the Water on reverse movement of the le through the water.

Another general object is toprovide a device 7 of the foregoing character which is light in weight, easy to put on, and does not interfere with the natural movementof the legs in swimming.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a device of this character which comprises a series of sets of plates, each set comprising a plurality of plates overlapping when closed to present a minimum of resistance to thewater, and spreading to form a fragment of cone extending around the front, outside and back of the leg, thesets being graduated and increasing in size toward the upper part of the leg so that each set attains a maximum effectiveness. 7 1

Other objectsand advantages willibecome. ap parent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying the features of the invention and showing it attached to the leg ofa swimmer.

.Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the device and showing theparts in open position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view but showing the parts in closed position.

Fig.4 is a vertical section 4-4 of Fig. 2.

While the invention is susceptibleof various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein de scribe in detail, the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the-invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend tocover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of. the invention as expressed in the appended claims.-

A device embodying the features of the invention is adapted to facilitate swimming. To this end it is so constructed that it'may be strapped to the lower leg and'provides plates'which' spread outwardly on a forward stroke-so that a large propelling force may be exerted by'the swimmer.

taken on the line Onthe return stroke of the leg the plates collapse upon each'other. around the leg so as to offer as little resistance as possible in the passage through the water. A device of this character adds considerable speed to swimming and is also of great use in treading water. i

As illustrated herein, the device comprises generally aharness adapted to fit around and to be firmly held in place on .thelower leg of the wearer... Secured to the harness is a series of sets of plates, the plates of each set being swingably supported by .the harness so that they may swing outwardly into 'a semi-conical form around the leg. Thus when a forward stroke of the leg is made, the pressure of the. water swingsthe plate-outwardly, the extent of such swinging being limited by a flexibleumember to hold the platesat an'angle to thedeg, On the return stroke the .plates collapseltowardthe leg, with the plates ofeach set overlapping each other.

The various sets of platesare of graduated size with the smallest plates, near-the bottom. of the leg and the largest plates at the upper end so that all sets of -plates willeffectively exert a propelling force in the water, The spacing of the sets is preferably such that each set overlaps the set immediately below. Thus plates of relatively great radial length may be utilized and the effective area thereof is large. r

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the harness,, which is adapted to fit around the lower leg, comprises a plurality of vertical straps l0. Preferably such straps are four in number and are located attheinside, the back, the outside, and. the front of the leg: .At the top and cated at the ankle. J'Thebands Hand 12 are preferably provided with snap fasteners l3 so that they may be opened to facilitate placing the device on the leg. Since the pressure exerted on the forward stroke is generally upward along the leg, the harness is further held-in place by a strap 14 connected at its ends to the lower ends of the'inside and outside straps In and extending under the instep. The strap [4' if desired may be provided with a snap fastener l5 to facilitate putting the'devlce on the leg.

As mentioned above, the device includes a plurality of sets of plates adapted to swing outwardly on'a forward stroke and also arranged to collapse around the leg on a return stroke. Eachset comprises a pluralityof plates 2!] arranged to spread in a somewhat conical formaaround the leg on the return stroke.

2 tion extending from the rear of the leg around the outside and to the front. Thus no part of the plates extend between the legs to interfere with the action of the swimmer. The plates of each set are fragments of a sector of a circle, the inner and outer edges thereof being concentric arcs. Preferably the arc of the inner edge of each plate is such that it approximately fits the leg when the plates are extended. With plates of this shape they may open out to form a portion of a cone around the leg,as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and may interfold in overlapping relation with one another rather compactly about the leg, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Preferably the plates are in adjoining relation and overlap slightly, as indicated at 2|, when they are open so that when spread or flaring 'outwardly they will constitute the equivalent of a solid piece. The plates are preferably made of a pliant material such as sheet aluminum, Lucite, or thelike. Each plate is slightly bowed so that it will conform to th'e'curvature: of the adjacent plates to produce the conical shape. Inthe drawing I have illustrated four such plates as constitutingeach set. The plates .at the front and rear of each set have their outer corners rounded, as at 22, to avoida sharp corner.

The various sets of plates are. graduatedin size with the smallest set near theankle and the largest set adjacent the knee.- Thus each set of plates will attain maximum effectiveness in its propulsive effort since the lower sets will not materially prevent the set above it from gaining a proper grip on the water.

Asmentioned above, the'plates are adapted to swing outwardly. on a forward or propulsive stroke of theleg'and are adapted to collapse Forsuch movement of the plates theyare swingably supported at theirinneredgesby means carried by the harness; In the preferred form, such means comprises a cord, wire, or the like 23 extending frorrrthe "rear of the legaround the outside thereof to the front and secured to the straps El of the harness. The plates maybe attached to the wire 23 bymeans-o'f rings 24. Thus the plates have a loose pivotal 'or'swingable connection with the wire so that they may move freely as desired.

Each plate is restricted in its outward movement so as to be retained in the most effective position. Preferably the plates are held so that when flared. outwardly they occupy aposition roughly at to the 'straight out position. To this end each plateis provided'with a flexible membensuch'as a cordor chain or the like, attached at its outer end to the outer edge of the plate and at its inner end to the harness. Preferably-the flexible members 25 are located at the front, outside, andrearstraps'lfi of the harness andhave their inner ends attached thereto. Tosimplify the construction, the flexible members 25 at their inner ends are attached to the strapsjiO at the point where the wire 23 is secured, except for the flexible members 25 of the lowermostset, in Whichlcase these members 25 are "secured to the sidestraps atthe point where the ankle stra'p I2 is secured.

In the foregoingfhave' referred to the forwardstrokeand' returnstroke of the leg. By forward'stroke I'mean the stroke which produces the forward propulsion the stroke however actually being rearward. Correspondingly, the remm r reve se simk is-T o war relative tothe snap I5.

direction of movement of the swimmer and does not produce any propulsive effect.

In use, the wearer places the device on his leg and then secures the two snaps l3 and the Obviously when the wearer is standing, the plates will fall into the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3. When swimming, a forward stroke of the leg causes the plates to spreadinto the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and a large propulsive effort may thereby be exerted in the water. Such propulsive effort is sufficient to materially increase swimming speed. On such forward stroke, the cords 25 limit the outward flaring movement of the plates 23 to the position shown in the drawing so that a maximum propulsion effort is thereby obtained. On the return stroke of the leg, the plates 20 immediately collapse into the position shown in Fig. 3 so that there is very little drag through the water.

While I have shown the plate at the front and the next adjacent plate overlapping the one immediately to the rear, and the rear plate overlapping the one immediately to the front, any overlapping arrangement may be utilized without departing from the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I haveprovided a novel device for attachment to the leg of a swimmer which provides a maximum propelling effect on the forward stroke of the leg and offers a minimum resistance to the water on the reverse movement thereof. It is light in weight, easy to put on, and does not interfere with the natural movement of the legs in swimming.

I claim as my invention: I

l. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a harness to fit the lower leg, a plurality o-fsets of swingable plates carried by said harness, said sets being vertically spaced. and. graduated in size with the larger plates at the upper end, the plates of each set overlapping each other laterally when folded to lie close to the leg. V .2. A device :of the character described comprising, in combination, aharness to fit the lower leg, a plurality of sets of plates swingably carried by said plates, the sets being vertically spaced, the plates of each set interfolding laterally on the return stroke: and being adapted to spread on the forward stroke, the plates of each set also overlapping the plates of the adjacent set on the return stroke.

3. A device of thencharaoter described comprising', in combination, a harness to fit the leg, a plurality of sets of. plates swingably carried by said harness with a vertically spaced relation between the respective sets, each set comprising a pluralityof plates located at the front, outside and rear of the leg and adapted to interiold laterally on the return" stroke, said plates spreading outwardly on the forward stroke to provide a downwardly dished semiconical propelling member.

4. A device of the character described comprising, incombination, a harness to fit the lower partof the leg, a plurality of vertically spaced sets of plates, each setccmprising a plurality of plates overlapping each other laterally when folded to lie close to the legymeans attached to the harness and swingably supporting the plates, and flexible means attached at one end to the plates and at the other enclto the harness to limit the forward or outward flaring movement of the plates and thereby hold the plates of each setin adjoining relation.

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a harness to fit the leg, a plurality of sets of plates swingably carried by the harness in vertically spaced relation, each set comprising a plurality of plates adapted to interfold on the return stroke and to flare outwardly on the forward stroke, and a flexible member for each plate attached at one end to the outer edge of the plate and at the other end to the harness to limit the outward flaring movement of the plates.

6. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sets of plates with the sets arranged in vertically spaced relation, a member for each set extending around the outside of the leg and attached to the harness, said member swingably supporting the plates, said plates being adapted to interfold on the return stroke and to flare outwardly on the forward stroke, and means for limiting the outward flaring movement of the plates.

7. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a harness adapted to fit the leg and comprising a pair of bands extending around the leg at the ankle and adjacent the knee, and a plurality of vertically extending strips laterally spaced around the leg and connecting the bands, a plurality of sets of plates with the sets in vertically spaced relation, and means secured to at least two of said strips for swingably supporting the plates of each set.

.I-IAROLD H. WENER. 

